Alabama tornadoes: Storms' death toll tops 200 across Alabama

Rescue workers dug through the rubble across central Alabama for a second day Thursday, hoping to find still more survivors as the death toll from a devastating tornado outbreak soared.

At least 210 people lost their lives in Alabama as a result of the Wednesday storms, state and local officials said after Gov. Robert Bentley inspected damage in his hometown of Tuscaloosa with federal disaster workers Thursday afternoon.

"We're going to get through this, because the people of Alabama are resilient," Bentley said. "They care about each other. We're going to get through this, and we're going to come out better on the other side."

About 2,000 National Guard troops and airmen were deployed statewide Thursday, including at least 400 in west Jefferson County communities. Many of the troops were working in support roles, clearing roads and moving supplies, but some were supplementing police and providing security.

The National Weather Service had not yet determined the strength of the tornado that hammered Jefferson County, though a weather service meteorologist speculated that it was the same one that devastated parts of Tuscaloosa, 45 miles away, and said it's possible that it will be determined to be an F5 tornado, the strongest classification.

In an aerial survey by The Birmingham News, the path of destruction appeared to be continuous from Tuscaloosa to Birmingham.

"These were the most intense supercell thunderstorms that I think anybody who was out there forecasting has ever seen," Greg Carbin at the weather service's Storm Prediction Center in Norman, Okla., told The Associated Press. "If you experienced a direct hit from one of these, you'd have to be in a reinforced room, storm shelter or underground" to survive.

John De Block, an NWS meteorologist in Birmingham, said a definitive measure of the strength of the Jefferson County tornado may not be available until Saturday.

'Heartbreaking'

Across much of the central part of the state on Thursday, police, rescue workers and neighbors continued to look for survivors, though some conceded they now mostly expected to recover bodies.

In the Pratt City neighborhood of Birmingham, rescue workers were conducting their third and final search, this time using cadaver dogs. Twenty people remain missing in the community, which had two confirmed fatalities. Authorities held out hope the dogs would find no more victims.

At the 2,000-member Bethel Baptist Church, the sanctuary was destroyed and members were making plans to hold services elsewhere.

"It's all gone," said Pastor Tommy Lewis. "It's a total loss. It's pretty much like our community. Everything's gone."

Even drinking the water wasn't normal. The Birmingham Water Works issued orders for residents of west Jefferson County along U.S. 78 to boil any water before drinking it because a loss of water pressure in the area increased the risk of contamination.

Birmingham Police Chief A.C. Roper, who visited Pratt City Thursday afternoon, said the scene reminded him of his time deployed for relief work after Hurricane Andrew.

"It's pretty devastating," he said. "Seeing our citizens with a look of despair and hopelessness is heartbreaking. Yet, so many have smiled and thanked us for being here."

Mayor William Bell was in Pratt City along with Council President Roderick Royal and other city officials urging people to donate supplies to help the displaced.

Bell was at the old Scott School, on Hiberian Street, which will be a resource center where the displaced can receive supplies. Boutwell Auditorium was open as a shelter Thursday but Fair Park arena will be used as the shelter beginning today.

In St. Clair County, where 1,400 homes were damaged, the number killed rose Thursday from two to 13 after authorities found 11 people dead in a community just south of Ashville.

Seven of those people, including a 7-year-old girl, were in a double-wide mobile home that was serving as an assisted living center, said St. Clair County Coroner Dennis Russell. Four others were killed in three houses along the same road, Russell said.

In Pleasant Grove in western Jefferson County, also hit hard, neighbors were mourning the loss of Nancy Wilson, 56, who was killed when a tornado-driven tree crushed her home.

Wilson had been planning to retire today as head of the Alabama Department of Human Resources' Bessemer office. She was supposed to have been feted at a Thursday night party at the Bessemer Public Library.

Friends and co-workers learned early Thursday that she died in the storm, but some still showed up at the library to honor her.

"She was one of the funniest, brightest people I know," said former Jefferson County Judge Sandra Storm. "She just accomplished so much."

Despite the destruction and wrenching loss of life, many in Pleasant Grove found the strength to be thankful.

"There were 20 to 30 homes devastated ... and we were afraid of what we would find when that search and rescue effort began," said Randy Maness, 51. "Any blessing right now is welcomed."

Maness said there was little left of his Aspen Wood apartment. What remained of his belongings he carried in a bag and a laundry basket.

"I'm thankful I still have my life," Maness said. "I don't care about the other stuff."

Across the central part of the state, hospitals continued to deal with the influx of patients. State medical officials said an estimated 1,500 people were treated in emergency rooms Wednesday night, and hospitals are still caring for the critically injured.

Tuscaloosa's DCH Regional Medical Center treated at least 600 people, admitted 100 and transferred about 30 to hospitals in Birmingham. At Children's Hospital in Birmingham, doctors treated 54 young patients, including a 9-year-old girl who was pronounced dead on arrival.

Portions of a half-dozen state and U.S. highways remained closed in four counties late Thursday as about 600 Alabama Department of Transportation workers labored to get them reopened, said ALDOT spokesman Tony Harris.

'We have to carry on'

As bad as it was Thursday, emergency response officials said it could have been much worse.

The National Weather Service was "completely on target" with forecasts and first-responders were ready, said Mark Kelly, executive director of the Jefferson County Emergency Management Agency.

"If you're well-trained, this becomes second nature," he said. "We hope for the best, but we expect the worst."

Touring Tuscaloosa with the governor Thursday was U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby, who like Bentley is a Tuscaloosa native. Shelby expressed confidence that the community, and the state, will persevere.

"I've never seen devastation like this in Alabama," Shelby said. "I've seen pictures of hurricanes and so forth, but this is the worst I've seen right here in my hometown. ... Our heart goes out to the people who lost their lives. A lot of them are injured. A lot of them are not accounted for yet. But we have to carry on."

Fugate, the FEMA chief, marveled at the vast path of destruction carved by the tornado the appeared to have traveled from Tuscaloosa to Birmingham. But he also said he was impressed with the way Alabamians were stepping up and helping one another.

"We've got a lot of kids in the National Guard that go to the University of Alabama. They just started putting on the uniform and saying, 'This isn't my unit, but can I help?'" Fugate said. "People weren't waiting. They were doing things to take care of each other -- neighbors helping neighbors."